AUSTRALIA
Adventist Schools Australia Partners With Avondale University Researchers
Avondale University has been selected by Adventist Schools Australia (ASA) to lead a national research project designed to drive continuous improvement across its 48 schools and campuses. The multiyear commission will see Avondale’s Christian Education Research Centre (CERC) measure key factors such as school climate, student and staff well-being, and faith engagement, using data collected annually from students, staff, and parents. The project includes consultation, ongoing refinement of research instruments, detailed data analysis, and customized reporting for the schools, conferences, and the ASA, supported by face-to-face debriefings to inform strategic planning.
Adventist schools in Australia serve nearly 17,000 students and aim to prepare them for a life of purpose and service. “Schools need feedback based on good data to clearly understand their situation and make plans so that they can strategically and operationally progress,” said Peter Beamish, director of the Christian Education Research Centre.
According to Adventist Schools Australia national director Jean Carter, “Adventist Schools Australia is delighted to be partnering with CERC. “[It will help us to develop] a school improvement survey that is tailor-made to . . . improve our schools, while also understanding the importance of maintaining and measuring our Adventist identity.”
GERMANY
The 2025 Young Adults Congress Meets in Berlin
Under the theme “Rooted in Christ,” the four-day young adults congress (YAC) brought together more than 50 in-person attendees—mostly students and young professionals from immigrant backgrounds—with many more joining online via livestream and social media. Designed to unite young adults around their God-given purpose, strengthen their faith, and equip them to be salt and light in their universities, workplaces, and communities, organizers said that the event struck a powerful chord.
This year’s edition focused on young adults who have recently relocated to Germany—students, researchers, and professionals learning to live out their faith in unfamiliar cultural settings, organizers reported. “By directly addressing issues of identity, faith, and cultural integration, YAC 2025 created a safe and meaningful space for participants to grow together,” they said.
One attendee from Jamaica shared: “I’m so grateful for this event—and even more for the people who made it possible.” Another one added, “I feel like a weight has been lifted. I can’t wait to get home and tell my family about this experience.”
UNITED STATES
Volunteers Celebrate Results at Pathway to Health Thanksgiving Service
Pathway to Health organizers, volunteers, and supporters recently gathered at the Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, to thank God for the many miracles witnessed during the recent Pathway to Health mega clinic. The church was filled with joy and gratitude as testimonies poured in from those impacted by the event and those who had served.
The service featured a blend of music, testimonies, and video presentations from the clinic. Ouachita Hills Academy students offered musical selections, while leaders and volunteers shared how lives were changed—both physically and spiritually.
Ivan Golubic, president of Pathway to Health, and Kathy Proffitt, chair of the board, offered thanks to major partners and churches who helped organize the event. “We had over 2,000 volunteers registered,” Golubic said. “Over 100 of them came from overseas—places like Australia, Fiji, India, and Papua New Guinea.”
Organizers reported that more than 650 people signed up for follow-up Bible studies, prayer, or seminars—and that number may be more than 1,000 once all paper sign-ups are added. Volunteers and leaders alike recognized that the true mission of Pathway to Health is only beginning, with evangelistic series scheduled to follow in June.
BRAZIL
Young people Make Flash Mobs and Distribute Books on Emotional Well-being
On May 3, about 200 young people held a flash mob in tourist attractions in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul. The initiative in that southern Brazil city offered messages focused on the emotional well-being of residents and tourists. Half of the group was on the famous pedestrian street Rua Coberta, while the rest went to the touristic lake spot of Lago Negro. Young Adventists sang, offered words of encouragement, and distributed copies of the mission book The Key to Change, which addresses emotional health, coping with difficulties, and overcoming the pressures of everyday life, organizers reported. Each copy was delivered with a handwritten dedication on the back cover.
Businesswoman Daniele Zambom de Souza was strolling through Lago Negro when she was surprised by the initiative. “I believe that . . . witnessing the presence of God in such an incredible and wonderful place, which is Lago Negro, was a priceless experience,” she says.
Saleswoman Franciele Drum believes that the initiative was like a message from heaven. “It was a gift. . . . We can only understand it as a message from God to us—that whenever we are, He follows us closely,” she said.
MEXICO
Montemorelos University Reaffirms Biblical Foundation During Fifty-second Anniversary
Montemorelos University’s Board of Trustees reaffirmed its commitment to Bible-based education on May 5 during its biannual meeting, approving key strategic initiatives that will guide the institution’s future—exactly 52 years after it was officially recognized as a university in Mexico. The school is a Seventh-day Adventist institution located in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and is directly overseen by the Inter-American Division of the Adventist Church.
Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University, presented a comprehensive report on the institution’s progress, challenges, and direction. He emphasized the university’s commitment to its Adventist heritage and loyalty to biblical principles amid external pressures and evolving educational models. “It is an evangelistic task,” said Castillo, referring to the challenge of recruiting faculty trained in Adventist institutions and dedicated to the mission of Adventist education at all levels.
Castillo emphasized the community impact of the university’s health model, both on and off campus; the expansion of technological platforms; and a strengthened focus on mission service and research. He noted that recent community outreach through health-promoting university programs has recently benefited more than 200,000 people. “This reflects Montemorelos University’s commitment to health, compassion, and mission,” he said.